Signaling system.



J. L. HALL.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED ABBA, 1910.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

' Inventor:

John L.Hall,

H is o ittorngg,

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PA TENT oFmoE;

com: L. HALL, or

SCHENEC'IADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERA'IJ ELECTRIC COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING srsrnm.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSignaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signaling systems and has for its object theprovision of improved means whereby indications may be transmitted atpredetermined intervals, the

length of which may be varied in a simple and efiicient manner.

My invention relates more specifically to signaling :ems for use onshipboard in signal' 0 .o the fire-room the times for firing the variousfurnaces. In my previous Patents Nos. 946,431 and 918,848, Ihavedisclosed systems for accomplishing this result. In the present case, Ihave devised a new system which is better adapted for certain uses thanmy earlier ones. In carrying .out my invention, I accomplish almostentirely by mechanical means that which is done in my previous systemselectrically. The indi cating lamps are controlled by a drum whichalways rotates in the same direction so that the lights will be lightedconsecutively at predetermined intervals apart. A step-byste mechanismdriven by a constantly rotating shaft controls the operation of thedrum, the latter being actuated after a predetermined number of stepshave been made by the step-by-step mechanism. I also provide means foradjusting the number of steps .which are taken before the drum is moved,thereby furnishing a variable time element by means of a simple anddurable structure.

In the accompanying drawing in which I have shown my invention embodiedin con crete form for purposes of illustration, Figure 1 represents aperspective view of the entire operating mechanism, all the bearings andframeworkbeing removed for purpose of clearness; and Fig. 2 represents adiagram of the circuit connections. I

Referring first to Fig. 2, the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 representthe indicators which are shown for purposes of illustration as electriclamps. It is obvious that the particular arrangement of these lamps andthe particular type of. indicator may be varied without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. The circuits of these lamps are controlledby means of a drum controller 7 which is operated in a mannerhereinafter described. The contacts on this drum are so arranged thatthe lamps will be llghted consecutively as the drum. rotates, therebeing the same interval of time between the lighting of the successivelamps. The circuit through these lamps is closed at intervalsindependently of the controller drum by means of the contact 8 and cam9. I also connect a bell across the line, as shown, so that whenever thecircuit is closed at the cam 9 the bell will ring so as to callattention to the fact that one of the lamps is lighted. When the circuitis closed at the cam 9 with the drum in the position shown in Fig. 2,the circuit is completed through lamp 1 as follows: from the positivemain through the cam 9 and contact 8 to contact 11, thence to conductor12, lamp 1 to the negative main. At the same time the bell 10 isconnected across the line. When the drum is moved to the next position,the lamp 2 will be lighted, the circuit being through the contacts 11and 13 on the drum. Similarly, when the drum is moved another step,lamps 3 will be lighted, the circuit being through contacts 11 and 14.In the same Way lamps 4, 5, and 6 will be lighted through the contacts15, 16, and 17 respectively on the drum. By continuously rotating thedrum and intermittently closing the circuit at the cam 9, the lamps willbe lighted, one after another, at equal intervals of time and the bellwill ring each time a lamp is lighted.

The mechanism for carrying out the various movements necessary in theoperation of my device consists of a shaft 18 which is continuouslyrotated by means of the worm 19. The shaft is provided at one end with acam 20 and at its middle portion with the contact segment 9 which islikewise in the form of a cam insulated from the shaft. The shaft 18 isarranged to operate a stepby-step mechanism by the engagement of the cam20 with a roller 22 on an arm 23 pivoted to the shaft 24. A ratchet disk25 is likewise mounted to rotate on the'shaft 24 and is pressed by meansof a spring 26 in a clockwise direction. The reciprocating movement ofthe arm 23 moves the ratchet wheel 25 step by step against the tensionof the spring; This is accomplished by means of a pawl 27 on a rod 28mounted in the arm 23 the spring 29 normally forcing the pawl 27 intoengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. As the arm 23 moves upand down, the awl 27 moves the release the ratchet whee, I provide thefollowing mechanism: Trip finger'31 is secured to the end of the shaft28 in such a osition as to-rbe engaged by a bell crank hammer 32 on theshaft 33. The hammer 32 is spring pressed by means of the spring 34toward the finger 31 so that if released it will move the finger tothrow the pawl 27 which in turn throws pawl 30 out of engagement withthe ratchet wheel. The hammer 32 is held by means of a trigger 35pizoted at 36. The free end of this trigger, 37, is arranged tobeengaged by a rod 38 mounted in the ratchet disk. The arrangement is suchthat when the disk is moved far enou h for the rod 38 to engage the end37 of the trigger, the hammer 32 will strike the finger and the pawlswill be thrown out, thereby permitting the ratchet wheel to returninresponse to the tension of the spring 26. The return of the ratchetwheel is limited by a stop 39 on the dial plate 40, this stop beingarranged in the path of the rod 38 which is extended for this purpose asshown. The position of this sto haii d wheel 41 which turns the dialplate in one direction or the other and thereby moves the stop. Bymoving this stop, the time interval between the successive trips of theratchet wheel is varied, since the number of steps taken by the ratchetmechanism is either increased or decreased.

The controlling drum 7 is operated by means of a ratchet mechanism, thepawl of which, 42, is mounted on the contact arm 8 secured to the shaft33. The ratchet wheel 43 is secured to the drum so that as the shaft 33is reciprocated back and forth it rotates the drum 7. On the oppositeend of the drum from the ratchet mechanism is provided a mechanism forcentering the contacts, consisting of a notched wheel 44 engaged by aspring pressed pivoted arm 45 having a roller 46 for engaging thenotches.

Reverting now to the step-by-step mechanism, it will be seen that whenthe trigger 35 releases the hammer 32, the spring 34 forces it downagainst the stop pin 47. This turns the shaft 33 and thereby rotates thecontact 8 into engagement with the cam 9. This closes the circuitthrough the indieating lamps and the circuit is held closed duringapartial revolution of the shaft 18. When the contact 8 reaches the endof the cam 9 it drops downand the pawl 42 en- 39 may be adjusted bymeans of thegages another tooth of the ratchet wheel 43. As soon as thisis done, the arm 23 is pin 47 naces so as to give a clear visualindication.

Suppose that the engineer desires that the furnace be fired at fifteenminute intervals. This would mean that the first furnace No. 1 is fired,and then fifteen minutes later furnace No. 2 is fired, and so on goingback to furnace No. 1 at the end of ninety minutes. dial 40 may beturned to the fifteen minute interval, thereby adjusting the stop 39 tothe proper position to give such an interval. The ratchet wheel is nowrotated step-bystep by means of a constantly rotating shaft 18 until thepawls are released and the disk returns until it is held by the stop 39.As this is done, the circuit of lamp N0. 1 is closed at cam 9 and thealarm bell 10 rings. The mechanism now continues to operate until theshaft 38 engages the free end 37 of the trigger 35 and again releasesthe mechanism to close the circuit and move the controlling drum so asto light the lamp at furnace No. 2. This successive'lighting of thelamps will continue as long as the shaft 18 continues to rotate. When itis desired to change the interval, the dial may be shifted by means ofthe hand wheel as before stated. I

It will be seen that I have provided a signaling system in which allelectromagnetic mechanism is eliminated, all operations being performedpositively by automatic mechanical movements. It should be understood,.of course, that the particular structure and arrangement of partstherein described is for purposes of illustration merely, since variousmodifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope ofwhich is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a signaling system, the combination 'With a series of electricindicators, a continuously operated step by step mechanism, acontrolling member rotated always in the same direction to successivelyenergize said indicators, ratchet mechanism operated at predeterminedintervals by said step by step mechanism to move the controlling member,

By turning the hand wheel 41, the

ammer 32 rotates the shaft and an auxiliary switch for closing a circuitthrough said indicators closed by said ratchet mechanism.

2. In a signalingsystem, the combination with a series of electricindicators, a controlling member therefor, actuating means for saidcontrolling member, an element biased to rotate in one direct-ion, meansfor moving said element against its bias, a switch in circuit with thecontrolling member, and means whereby said element is released at apredetermined point to permit the element to return and effect the operation of said actuating means and said switch.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a continuously rotatingelement, and a step by step mechanism driven thereby, of a series ofelectric indicators, a controlling member therefor, an auxiliary switchin circuit with said controlling member, and a ratchet mechanism forclosing said switch and likewise rotating said controlling member a stepafter the step by step mechanism has taken a predetermined number ofsteps.

4,. In a signaling system, the combination with a continuously rotatingelement, a step by step mechanism driven thereby against a bias, aseries of electric indicators, a controlling member therefor, anauxiliary circuit closing switch, ratchet mechanism for rotating saidcontrolling member, and means whereby said step by step mechanism isreleased at a predetermined point to permit it to return and operate theratchet mechanism and close the switch.

5. In a signaling system, the combination with a time element mechanismand means for driving the same, of a series of electric indicators. acontrolling member for said indicators, a switch in circuit with saidcontroller biased to closed positien, a latch for holding said switch inopen position, operating mechanism for said controlling member held ininoperative position by said latch, and means whereby said latch istripped after a predetermined mover. of the time element mechanismwhereby the switch is closed and the controlling member operated.

6. In a signaling system, the combination with a continuously rotatingelement, a step by step mechanism driven thereby, a series of electricindicators, a controlling member therefor, a switch in circuit with saidcontrolling member biased to closed position, a latch for holding thesame in open position, ratchet mechanism driven by the rotating elementfor operating said controlling member held in inoperative condition bysaid latch, and means whereby said step by step mechanism is released ata predetermined point and the latch tripped whereby the ratchetmechanism becomes operative and the switch is closed.

7. In a signaling system, the combination with ratchet mechanism drivenstep by step against a spring tension, a series of electric indicators,a controlling member therefor, actuating means for said controllingmember, an auxiliary circuit closer, and means whereby said ratchetmechanism is released at a predetermined point to effect the operationof said actuating means and said circuit closer.

8. In a signaling system, the combination with a ratchet mechanismdriven step by step against -a spring tension, a series of electricindicators, a controlling member therefor, always rotatable in the samedirection to successively energize said indicators, ratchet mechanismoperated at predetermined intervals by said step by step mechanism tomove the controlling member, a switch in series with said controller,and means whereby said switch is closed and opened at similar intervalsafter the shifting of the cont-roller.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April,1910.

JOHN L. HALL.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFoRn,

